The Sundays River Valley Local Municipality is a Category B municipality within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B3 (small towns) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipal code: | EC106 |
| Seat: | Nqweba |
| Number of wards: | 8 |
| Total area: | 5,995 km² ( square miles) |
| Population: | 53,256 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Solethu Lucas |
About
The Sundays River Valley Local Municipality is geographically located in the southeastern region of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, approximately 50 kilometres from the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
The municipality derives its name from the 250 kilometres long Sundays River, the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The river winds its way through the Zuurberg Mountains and passes Nqweba (formerly known as Kirkwood) in the fertile Sundays River Valley. It empties into the Indian Ocean at Algoa Bay near Gqeberha.
The Sundays River Valley Local Municipality comprises 8 electoral wards and covers an area of 5,995 km² ( square miles), making it the third-largest of seven local municipalities in the Sarah Baartman District.
The Sundays River Valley Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Ndlambe and Makana Local Municipalities to the east
- Blue Crane Route Local Municipality to the north
- Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality to the north and west
- Kouga Local Municipality to the southwest
- The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality to the south
- The Indian Ocean to the southeast
The administrative headquarters/seat of the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality is in Nqweba (previously known as Kirkwood), a small but beautiful and green citrus-rich area.
To the north of Kirkwood lies the Rietberg Mountain with the Uyepoort (Uye gateway) that provides passage to the Zuurberg Mountains and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park. A panoramic view of Kirkwood and the orange groves is visible from The Lookout. The Lookout is also known as a site where large dinosaur fossils have been dug up by archaeologists. The first complete dinosaur fossil to be found in South Africa, nicknamed “Kirky,” was found not far from Kirkwood.
The Sundays River Valley is characterised by harsh climate conditions, with summer temperatures rising to over 40°C. Rainfall is spread over the year and is between 250-500mm per annum.
The Sundays River Valley is also characterised by wide, fertile flood plains and is associated with low-lying land and steep, less fertile slopes. The area outside the Sundays River Valley includes the Paterson area, the coastal belt, and the west of Alexandria in the Ndlambe Local Municipality.
The Sundays River Valley Local Municipality comprises three regions with distinct characteristics:
- The Sundays River Valley is characterized by wide, fertile flood plains, high-intensity agricultural activities (in particular the production of citrus fruits), and a well-developed irrigation system. In addition to citrus cultivation, various tourist attractions, bed and breakfast facilities, packing sheds, and game-related tourist facilities are present throughout the valley. The town of Kirkwood is the main focal point of the Valley, with Addo and Sunland as secondary nodes.
- The coastal zone, between the mouth of the Sundays River and Alexandria, is predominantly characterised by reserves and conservation areas, which form part of the Greater Addo Elephant National Park. No settlement occurs in the coastal zone; it is largely undeveloped and contains the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, the Alexandria Coastal Reserve, and the Alexandria State Forest. The area is unique for its mobile dunes and unspoiled wilderness.
- The hinterlands, north and east of the Sundays River Valley, are characterised by high-lying mountainous areas with steep valleys and drainage features. This region includes the Addo Elephant National Park and Zuurberg Conservation areas, as well as the town of Paterson with the Shamwari Game Reserve.
The Sundays River Valley Municipality boasts ecotourism and agricultural potential. It encompasses the Addo Elephant National Park and other significant areas of nature conservation. It is also one of the key production areas for citrus in South Africa. These two are the most important economic drivers in the Sundays River Valley Municipality.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality has a population of 53,256 people, compared to 59,793 in 2016 and 54,504 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.22%.
According to the 2022 Census, 24.1% of the population is under the age of 15, 70.3% is between 15 and 64, and 5.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 71.8% of the population in the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 21.4% as Coloured, 5.9% as White, and 0.2% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 64.3% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 28% speak Afrikaans, 3.4% speak English, and 4.3% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality are agriculture, tourism, finance, community services, trade, transport, and construction.
The agricultural industry, centering mainly around citrus fruit, dairy, and chicory farming, plays a major role in the economy and functioning of the municipality.
Approximately 25% of South Africa’s navel oranges and 50% of the country’s lemons are produced in the Sundays River Valley. The area exports millions of cartons of navel oranges per year, earning more than R1 billion in foreign exchange for South Africa. Other agricultural products include potatoes, vegetables, wheat, maize, chicory, rye grass, and flowers.
Ecotourism is another driving force of the Sundays River Valley Municipality’s economy, thanks to the presence of vast unspoiled wilderness areas. Addo receives about 115,000 visitors each year, of which 50% are foreign, and this figure is on the increase.
Municipal council and management
The Sundays River Valley municipal council is comprised of 16 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 8 wards, while the remaining 8 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of 10 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 10 – DA: 4 – EFF: 1 – GOOD: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Solethu Lucas |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | n/a |
| Speaker | Siseko Nodonti |
| Chief Whip | n/a |
| Other Council Members | – Nelisa Ncambele – Mandile Payi (Portfolio Head: Infrastructure Planning and Development) – Karen Smith (Portfolio Head: Community Services and Public Safety) |
| Municipal Manager | Thabiso Klaas |
| Chief Financial Officer | Johannes Krapohl |
| Senior Management | – Phelisile Kondile (Director: Corporate Services) – Andiswa Mbongwe (Director: Community Services and Public Safety) – Xola Mntonintshi (Director: Infrastructure Planning and Development) |
| Communications Officers | Zusiphe Jaji |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality.
- Addo
- Aqua Park
- Bergsig
- Coerney
- Enon
- Moses Mabida
- Nqweba (formerly known as Kirkwood)
- Paterson
- Sunland
Contact details
The contact details of the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 47, Nqweba, 6120 |
| Physical Address: | 23 Middle Street, Nqweba, 6120 |
| Telephone: | 042 230 7700 |
| WhatsApp: | 0782666230 |
| Fax: | 042 230 1799 |
| Email: | srvm@srvm.gov.za |
| Website: | www.srvm.gov.za |
